10 Delicious Fruit-Infused Water Recipes to Upgrade Boring H2O

Perri O. BlumbergFeb 09

In minutes, you can transform boring H2O into a delicious glass of healthy, refreshing, flavored water.

Say goodbye to bottled water!

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According to the National Resources Defense Council, 90 percent of what you pay for a bottle of water goes toward packaging, shipping, and advertising; and many bottles wind up in landfills, where they might take thousands of years to decompose. Plus: If you’re going to buy flavored waters, they could be bulked up with added colors, sugars, and other unhealthy agents. Skip the store, then, and mix these up yourself. Try these genius tricks to drink more water every day.

Apples and cinnamon

Photo by Matthew Cohen

Blogger Sarah’s Cool Stuff combines cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon, and apples to flavor her water. “Skinny spice” cinnamon helps lower blood sugar concentration and improves insulin sensitivity, while apples have been shown in studies to help a wide spectrum of ailments from staving off Alzheimer’s to protecting against colon cancer. These everyday habits can also help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Orange slices and vanilla bean

Photo by Matthew Cohen

Blogger Detoxinista hydrates with this simple recipe for orange and vanilla infused water. If you don’t have vanilla bean handy, you can substitute the pod with vanilla extract; both are naturally high in antioxidants.

Strawberries and basil

Photo by Matthew Cohen

This pretty medley of strawberries and basil from A Beautiful Mess provides iron from the herb and vitamin C from the berries, which has been linked to fighting cancer, keeping wrinkles at bay, and more. Watch out for these unexpected signs of dehydration.

Blackberries and sage

Photo by Matthew Cohen

Blogger The Yummy Life puts a spin on water with blackberry and sage. Blackberries are brimming with fiber and heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, while sage contains vitamin A and a variety of minerals like calcium and iron.

Cucumber slices and lemongrass

Photo by Matthew Cohen

Transform a plain pitcher with this recipe for cucumber and lemongrass water from EatBoutique. Lemongrass is a key ingredient in Thai cuisine; if you can’t find it at the market in the produce department, see if you can find frozen stalks in the freezer aisle.